Panflute

Adding to that, what I think has always been Real Madrid's problem (or at least since I started watching them) is that they struggle to win the 'easy' games. Especially in recent years, Real Madrid have performed so well in huge games, such as the CL draws against Bayern München and not to mention the CL finals. That they managed to kick Atlético Madrid out of that competition 4 seasons in a row regardless of their domestic league encounters shows that they know how to show up to a big game. Yet they seem to lack that dedication when playing domestic league games against unexciting opponents, while a team like Barcelona always seems determined to demolish the smaller teams. It's just a sentiment and I'm not sure if it's supported by stats at all, but I've never been able to say with confidence "yeah, Real will win this easily".

The problem really is up front, where few players really seem to be on form. As was pointed out earlier, Barcelona won nearly every game in La Liga, and it's not because all of their games were perfect. But even when Barcelona are struggling, they have the right people who can push forward, and a goal is almost guaranteed to happen at one point. By contrast, I've seen so many matches where Madrid pressed forward, but just couldn't force anything. Part of it is a lack of attacking creativity, but normally, players like Ronaldo don't need that to get their goal. The match against Betis was a good example. When you lose 0-1 against a team like that, it's not because you were weak defensively, but because you failed to score at least 2-3 goals against a team like that, which in my view is obligatory during a home game, and indeed Barcelona wins their games by doing just that: scoring a few times regardless of their form that day. La Liga is as good as lost, so what has to happen now is a good run in both the Champion's League and the Spanish Cup, and some good results against Barcelona wherever they're encountered. From the super cup we know this is possible, but what Real Madrid needs most right now is a few good games (like the one against Sevilla) to at least get the bad taste out of their mouths and build from there. There's still a lot to be played for, but they have to improve fast if they don't want to be done with this season in February.

The hero we don't deserve https://www.bbc.com/news/42032629

Yeah what the fuck is up with that. Not only PSG, but I notice a lot of teams bench their best players.

Strangely, Man Utd is very good in my run. I only beat them once so far (which was in the CL final though). I agree the CL is too easy. I find it much easier to win than the FA Cup, for example. The two-legged knock-out system can help you recover from the occasional bad match. Really the biggest challenge is winning the final purely because it's just one game.

Won the EPL and, hilariously, the Champion's League with Tottenham. Things suddenly went very well when I switched from a 4-4-2 system to a 4-3-3 system. The only problem now is that I don't really know what to do with Harry Kane. Bas Dost (who I got from Sporting) seems to be the better goal-scorer, so he plays in the centre while Kane plays on the right. But he rarely makes goals or even assists now as I prefer to build attacks on the left (where I have Son and Draxler). He's a 25-year-old player with 88 avg., so I could just sell him for a 90-100 mln euros, but I wouldn't really know who to get instead anyway. In other developments, Barcelona bought Toby Alderweireld, but he can easily be replaced by either Sánchez or Dier, who are both much younger. I actually preferred this option because it requires me to do less rotation to keep everyone happy. I also took the job of coaching Canada, but I was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup. Now I don't know whether to continue or find a better country, as Canada doesn't seem to have much in the way of promising new players.

Yeah it's weird. I only notice this on higher difficulty but after beating Arsenal 2-0 I can just as well lose to Southampton 1-2.

Interesting things keep happening as the season goes on. Sold Dembele to Barcelona (so now I guess they have 2 of them), and used the money to buy Draxler from PSG. I lost a few important matches in the league, but I beat Chelsea 3-0 in the FA Cup Round of 16, and in the first knock-out match of the CL I beat Barcelona 1-3. My priority is still winning the league, but seeing as I'm 2 matches away from the FA Cup final I might as well go for that at well. CL seems a bit too much for now, despite giving Barcelona a thrashing.

After some embarassing defeats (4-1 against Leipzig, 4-0 against Man Utd), my Tottenham got its shit together and I'm back on track with like 6-7 consecutive wins and only 1 goal conceded. As Cicero pointed out, having a fit defence is vital, and with Alderweireld (87) and Vertonghen (85) in the back I can't complain at all. The only problem is that Barcelona is after Alderweireld, so I'll have to hold them off or look for a replacement.

I think the games, including the first, still hold up well. Maybe the next generation they should do a remaster just for the graphics, but I'd rather they just focus on making a great new game. Andromeda had some good ideas but it was such a step down from the originals.

Now I just have to do The Citadel DLC and the final story missions. I'm already tempted to start over not too long after I've beaten the trilogy again. I really don't enjoy other games as much as these even if they're new.

Got backt to my second playthrough of the Mass Effect trilogy. Currently at the start of 3, which is the best of the series imo.

Been listening to German hiphop as of late. Germany produces a lot of garbage like Fler and Bushido, but the Berlin scene has some interesting artists, like K.I.Z. and some of the Hirntot material.

Nope. I wouldn't expect it any time soon because Bethesda are stuck in a loop of re-releasing Skyrim every year. It's already been 6 years and there hasn't even been an announcement yet. Last time, the announcement and the release were like a year apart.

Anyway, I'm playing Elder Scrolls Online as of late. It's ideal because while it is officially an MMO (in that you are in a megaserver with thousands of other players), it is oriented towards quests that you can complete on your own. So I get to immerse myself in the beautiful world and its lore while not having to interact with others (I've always hated multiplayer unless it's with friends).

I've never played that, but I always had to laugh at one guild attacking another while the latter were holding a memorial service for a guild member who had died irl. She would've wanted it that way.

uhm excuse me where is my Real Madrid bed sheet

I also got thrashed by Everton. Don't know what drugs they're taking.

One thing I do like about this game is how the English teams finally seem a little less overpowered. I don't know if you guys had the same experience, but at least since FIFA 13 Chelsea would be in the CL final nearly 100% of the time. And teams like ManU, ManC and even Tottenham would regularly make it to the semi-finals. Well, in my Real Madrid game, Arsenal actually managed to win the league, and I play Atletico in the CL final, with all Engish teams having been eliminated in the quarter finals.

Single player DLC costs a lot of money to make, and now that the game has been panned in the reviews they know it's not going to attract a lot of new players. Instead they're focusing on multiplayer content, which is an easy cash grab by comparison. There was a really good video on YouTube that broke this down, but sadly I can't find it right now.

It was a decent game, but pretty flawed and nowhere near the level of the original games. It was also rushed to release by EA because they wanted to cash in on the franchise name, meaning that now we won't get any single player DLC for the game now.

Made a second career mode with Tottenham. Started playing in a 4-4-2 system and it's working wonders so far. Tried to get Alex Sandro for the left flank but his demands were too high. ---------------------------Kane---------Dost----------------------------- -----Son----Dembélé----------------Eriksen---------Alli--------- ---Sánchez---Vertonghen---Alderweireld----Aurier----- ---------------------------------Lloris--------------------------------------

Oh wow, the game just updated and now you can actually negotiate a contract after the release clause has been paid. Good thing too because now Dortmund is after Carvajal...

Luckily I still have a save from before the offer was made (didn't play any matches since then) so I'll just try to offer him a new contract.